Weizmann Quits Basle Before Closing of Congress, Leaving Door Open for Re-election

Dr. Chaim Weizmann left Basle tonight, leaving the door open for him to be drafted as president of the World Zionist Organization.

Although he had let it be known early in the evening that he was not a candidate for the presidency, the ailing Zionist leader delivered a brief farewell address to the Congress which was interpreted as indicating his willingness to head the Zionist movement, if drafted.

Explaining that he was forced because of ill health to leave before the Congress concluded–which it is expected to do tomorrow–Weizmann said that many of the remarks attributed to him during the Congress were not made by him. “Perhaps I made remarks which were not intended against anyone,” he added. “I want to thank my friends and with this wish a good closing of the Congress. I hope you will forget your troubles and cares and start a new era. I thank you and I’ll see you at the next Congress.”

Dr. Weizmann was given a standing ovation by the entire audience, except the Revisionists. As he turned to shake hands with Dr. Abba Silver and other members of the Agency and praesidium, the delegates applauded.

In a resolution passed late tonight, the Congress demanded that the Palestine Government turn all immigration certificates over to the Jewish Agency for allocation and that the composition of the Palestine immigration offices in each country be based on the proportion of supporters the various Zionist parties have in the respective countries. However, the immigration bureaus are to work under the general directives laid down by the Agency, with most visas to be given to young immigrants.

An uproar which forced a two-hour recess of the session developed after midnight when Rabbi Bizonski of the Mizrachi asked for a roll call vote on a motion–which had earlier been defeated by the rescue committee–that all Jewish orphans up to the age of 15 who entered Palestine under the auspices of the Youth Aliyah were to be given a religious education. A Mapai spokesman opposed the resolution, stating that one of the basic principles of Zionism was freedom of education. The proposal was defeated 146 to 27, but the Mizrachi delegation demanded a recount. At this point the session was recessed to allow the praesidium to rule on the Mizrachi demand.

(As the Bulletin went to press, the Congress was still in session, with indications that it would not adjourn before dawn.)